Polyn Technology, a developer of fabless semiconductors, has claimed success in tests of its VibroSense tyre grip monitoring system, designed to enable real-time awareness of road surface conditions.
In a recent series of trials at the Applus IDIADA multi-surface proving ground in Spain, Polyn tested the VibroSense neural network model on standard tyres from a leading tyre manufacturer. The tests were conducted on various track surfaces, including dry and wet asphalt, dry and wet concrete pavement, wet basalt to simulate snow, and wet ceramic to simulate icy conditions.
The VibroSense system is powered by a NASP (neuromorphic analogue signal processing) ultra-low-power chip with an integrated MEMS accelerometer. That technology can estimate the peak friction coefficient (PFC), to provide real-time information about tyre grip, enhancing control and safety in vehicles of all types.
David Shaw, analyst with Tire Industry Research in the UK, observed the tyre tests at IDIADA. He noted that while “in principle, measuring tyre-road friction is not too difficult, the challenge is to do it on a practical system that costs just a dollar or two, consumes tiny amounts of energy, and needs only limited data bandwidth. None of the top tyre makers could achieve that, but Polyn has.”
The IDIADA facility testing was the first in a series to be conducted with different tyre manufacturers, and Polynn plans .to demonstrate the system to every big player in the tyre industry.
“VibroSense is the missing link between the tyre and the road,” said Aleksandr Timofeev, CEO of Polyn. “It delivers a true sense of surface conditions through real-time tyre-road physical interaction. It provides unprecedented insights into tyre grip and behaviour, and vehicle dynamics, all without altering existing vehicle hardware.”
VibroSense was a runner up in the 2024 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards.
